Some exciting news out of Park Brook Elementary this week: The school was awarded $2,995 by the American Heart Association to purchase new ellipticals and a recumbent bike for its Fitness Studio! Of the 865 schools that applied for the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge grants nationwide, Park Brook was selected as one of 180—and only seven in Minnesota—to receive funding.
The new ellipticals and bike will be placed in Park Brook's Fitness Studio, which is used as an intervention strategy for students with academic or behavioral challenges. It's a key part of the school's Focus on Fitness, which improves academic outcomes by keeping students active and healthy.
"The Focus on Fitness Initiative at Park Brook has transformed the school," says Park Brook Elementary School principal Scott Taylor. "This grant will allow us to upgrade and increase the equipment in the Fitness Studio, and it is an honor to be one of seven schools in the state of Minnesota to receive this award."
The machines will be ordered and installed as soon as possible. Park Brook Elementary's connections to the American Heart Association also include a Double Dutch demonstration team, which travels through the Twin Cities to kick off the Jump Rope for Heart/Kids Heart Challenge fundraising campaign.
An update: the machines were received and installed the week of Dec. 6, 2020. Here's the new equipment!
